Two days ago, zobel uploaded some of my package updates for me. One of them was ndisgtk 0.8.1, which adds more translations and fixes some problems. I intent to create a 0.9 release soon, with support for PolicyKit. I will upload the release candidate of this version to Debian experimental and Ubuntu Hardy. The other upload was readahead-list 1:1.20060421.1016-1, which I found on the Gentoo mirrors, but not where previous releases were located. This is OK, because the upstream author is a Gentoo developer and uploaded this tarball himself. I already requested to sync this release into Ubuntu Hardy, to reduce the diff between both distributions. ... Read more 》

Since yesterday, I am a Debian maintainer. This will help me and my sponsors, which have to do less now. I can now upload new versions of my packages if the version in unstable contains the “Dm-Upload-Allowed” field in the dsc (and only if the package is not NEW). For more information about the Concept of Debian Maintainers, see http://wiki.debian.org/Maintainers I’m very happy about this, as it makes my life easier. But this does not mean that I don’t want to be a DD anymore. A DD is able to vote, to sponsor packages, to upload NEW packages, and many more things. (BTW: I’m currently at T&S step) ... Read more 》

pre-compiled aufs modules for Ubuntu Hardy will be available soon. Today, the linux-ubuntu-modules git has seen the commit which adds the aufs module for generic and server kernels on the i386 and amd64 architectures. But this is not the only thing. 5 patches from the aufs source have been commited to Ubuntu Hardy’s kernel repo. 1. [Export __lookup_hash](https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/kernel-team/2008-January/002036.html): and is needed for NFS 2. [Export put_filp](https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/kernel-team/2008-January/002037.html): This patch exports put_filp and is needed for NFS. 3. [Export do_splice_from and do_splice_to](https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/kernel-team/2008-January/002038.html): 4. [Export security_inode_permission()](https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/kernel-team/2008-January/002039.html), also used by UnionFS, where it is currently disabled 5. [Export deny_write_access()](https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/kernel-team/2008-January/002040.html): The aufs source package will see an update in Debian soon, which will be sync’ed into Ubuntu Hardy. This update uses the same code as the aufs code in linux-ubuntu-modules. This new code has improved XFS support, improved TMPFS support, improved support for lhash and put_filp patches. It’s also the first revision to support kernel 2.6.24. ... Read more 》

Neil, you have problems with your HP laptop. But this is not HP’s fault. The laptop you bought has been designed for use with windows only, like all (?) other HP laptops for home users. Most (all?) HPs Business products are fully Linux compatible and come with pre-installed FreeDOS. A few months ago, I bought an HP Compaq 6720s (GR 644ET), installed Ubuntu 7.10 64-bit on it, and everything worked out of the box (except eth0, due to problems in Ubuntu’s kernel). I have absolutely no problems with my laptop, even the built-in card reader works out of the box. ... Read more 》

April 2007, I joined the Fellowship of the Free Software Foundation Europe. I also became involved in the development of Debian GNU/Linux with my first package, aufs, sponsored by Daniel Baumann. This was the starting point for my Debian stuff. Now I maintain 6 packages in Debian. One of the most interesting packages is gnome-app-install, which will be part of the gnome-desktop task (already added to tasksel’s list). Users will be able to install applications easily. It also activates the automatic codec installation, so users will be able to play most multimedia files easily. ... Read more 》

Two days ago, I sent my Debian Maintainer application to the debian-newmaint mailing list. Previously, I asked several sponsors if they would advocate me. malex said yes. Another sponsor, who is also an Ubuntu MOTU, also wrote a bit. A Debian Maintainer can upload new versions of his packages, if they are not NEW and if the Packages contains a DM-Upload-Allowed field. This would allow me to upload new versions of gnome-app-install or app-install-data, dir2ogg, etc. without needing to ask a sponsor first. ... Read more 》